WHAT: Minnesota Public Radio presents a public insight forum, hosted by Kerri Miller, to explore the question, "Why are college-aged kids drinking to excess?"

WHERE: The UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio, 480 Cedar Street, St. Paul

WHEN: Monday, January 14, 7–8:30 p.m.

TICKETS: This event is free and open to the public, though registration is required. Seating is limited. To register, visit click here.

TUNE IN: The event will be recorded for broadcast on MPR's Midmorning on Tuesday, January 15, 9–10 a.m., which can be heard on MPR's News & Information Stations statewide, including KNOW 91.1 FM in the Twin Cities.

Brian Threet, a 20-year-old who planned to attend St. Cloud State University, died last weekend. His brother suspects it was from alcohol; police are still working to confirm that. "We got to move on from the fact that he just partied too much," said Joshua Threet. Should it be true, Brian Threet's death would be the fourth in Minnesota in the last few months attributed to excessive—or binge—drinking.

These high-profile deaths in the news raise questions, chief among them: To what degree is binge drinking a serious problem? Minnesota's rate of binge drinking by young people is among the worst in the nation, part of a group of Midwestern states that have the highest rates of binge drinking in the United States.

What are the trends when it comes to young people and excessive drinking? Why does it appear that college students are engaging more in binge drinking? Is this a problem that goes beyond the campus—is it a Midwest issue?

Minnesota Public Radio News will host a public insight forum to get at why college students and others engage in binge drinking. Midmorning host Kerri Miller will moderate a discussion with members of the Public Insight Network, MPR listeners and guests who can lend special insight or expertise to the issue of binge drinking. The forum will also seek answers: What can be done to prevent excessive drinking and the damages it causes?

Click here for more information.

Minnesota Public Radio® operates a 37-station radio network serving virtually all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and produces programming for radio, Internet and face-to-face audiences. Programs produced by Minnesota Public Radio, operating as American Public Media,™ reach 14.6 million listeners nationwide each week. Of those, more than 800,000 listen regionally, in Minnesota and surrounding states. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services can be obtained at www.mpr.org and www.americanpublicmedia.org.

###

Source: Data are copyright Arbitron, Inc., Nationwide and PSA data. Arbitron data are estimates only. Spring 2006/Fall 2006 average